A Brief Account of the Destruction of the Indies

Indians bestow very liberally on them Gold, Silver, and Jewels, being very serviceable
to them many other wayes. Nor did the Indians ever betake themselves to their Arms
in an Hostile manner, till by infinite Injuries and Cruelties they were compell'd
thereunto: For on the contrary, they gave the Spaniards an amicable and honourable
Reception in all their Towns, and furnished them with Provisions, and as many Male
and Female Servants as they required.
I can also farther testifie, that the Spaniards, without the least provocation on their
part, as soon as they entred upon these Territories, did burn at the Stake their most
Potent Caciq Ataliba, Prince of the whole Country, after they had extorted from him
above Two Millions of Gold, and possessed themselves of his Province, without the
least Opposition: and Cochilimaca, his Captain General, who with other Rulers, came
peaceably into them, follow'd him by the same fiery Tryal and Death. As also some few
days after, the Ruler of the Province of Quitonia, who was burnt, without any Cause
given, or Crime laid to his Charge. They likewise put Schapera, Prince of the Canaries
to the same Death, and in like manner, burnt the Feet of Alvidis, the greatest of all the
Quitonian Lords, and rackt him with other Torments to Extract from him a discovery
of Ataliba's Treasure, whereof as appear'd after, he was totally ignorant. Thus they
treated Cocopaganga, Governour of all the Provinces of Quitonia, who being overcome
with the Intreaties of Sebastian Bernalcarus, the Governours Captain, went peaceably
to pay them a Visit; but because he could not give them as much Gold as they
demanded, they burnt him with many other Casics and Chief Persons of Quality. And
as I understnad, did it with this evil Intention, that they might not leave one surviving
Lord or Peer in the whole Countrey.
I also affirm that I saw with these Eyes of mine the Spaniards for no other reason, but
only to gratifie their bloody mindedness, cut off the Hands, Noses, and Ears, both of
Indians and Indianesses, and that in so many places and parts, that it would be too
prolix and tedious to relate them. Nay, I have seen the Spaniards let loose their Dogs
upon the Indians to bait and tear them in pieces, and such a Number of Villages burnt
by them as cannot well be discover'd: Farther this is a certain Truth, that they
snatched Babes from the Mothers Embraces, and taking hold of their Arms threw
them away as far as they would from them: (a pretty kind of barr-tossing Recreation.)
They committed many other Cruelties, which shook me with Terror at the very sight of
them, and would take up too much time in the Relation.
I likewise aver, That the Spaniards gathered together as many Indians as fill'd Three
Houses, to which, for no cause, (or a very inconsiderable one) they set fire, and burnt
every one of them: But a Presbyter, Ocana by Name, chanced to snatch a little baby
out of the fire, which being observ'd by a Spaniard, he tore him out of his Arms, and
threw him into the midst of the Flames, where he was with the rest, soon burnt to
Ashes, which Spaniard the same day he committed that Fact, returning to his
Quarters, dyed suddenly by the way, and I advised them not to give him Christian
Burial.